Perfect Way to Start 2018

Before Thanksgiving, Carol Mayne asked me if I'd like to be her Guest as the wonderful Fusion Challenge celebrates its Fourth Anniversary. I was delighted to say, "YES!!!" I'd say this is just about the most perfect way to start out the New Year!! Won't you join me in wishing Lesley and her fabulous Design Team a very happy anniversary by joining in the fun at Fusion?!

Just like it says, you can either use the sketch, or the photo inspiration, or both, to create your card. For the first challenge of this New Year, and in honor of their Fourth Anniversary, this is the Fusion Graphic:

I made a little something using the sketch and the colors from the photo. Since I needed a more masculine thank you card, my brain went in this direction. 

I surprised myself and made this card in less than hour. Who knew??! The grayish-brownish patterned paper is my nod to the wood from the photo. I used some watercolors to create a splashy look for the W-Plus9 cut circle. The AE sentiment was a Christmas gift from DH to me (wink-wink...boy does he ever have good taste!!). The two blue strips are from my scrap files. I added three PTI rainstones to the circle as well. And there you have it! Make sure you head on over to Fusion and wish them all the best, and while you're there, play along! Happy New Year, and

It's All Good

I think I've been away from my computer for what seems a forever time. It's been "interesting" around here as of late; lots of company, Thanksgiving, and some extra caregiver duties. I'll leave it at that, and say that it really is, all good. I hope that you're all well, and I hope you know that you've been on my mind.

In the last couple of days, I've had the chance to make some money holder cards for some teenage-ish grandchildren, a few birthday cards for family members, and a coffee card for this season's hop. I do so love to play along with the Coffee Lovers Blog Hop. There's a bazillion of brilliant cards in the gallery, too. Such clever ideas!! A huge thanks to Amy, the entire DT, and all those amazing sponsors for making this so fun!!

Had to come up with something fast, but I love this little guy!

This is an MFT snowman that I've had for quite some time. I used ME Smoke Ink, and some Copics to color him. That's an MFT Wonky frame, too. The teensy cup was cut with my Silhouette so I could make it just the right size. And I'm off...Thanks for stopping, Merry Christmas, and God Bless you all.

Christmas Presents

Most of the cards I make go into bins and are saved throughout the year. At Christmas time, I divvy them up, and fill small boxes with at least a dozen cards and envelopes as presents for special people. I was one short. One. One stinkin' card. And naturally, the box that was short has to be ready to go this week...so my son can take it back to the Twin Cities after our Thanksgiving together. One short...*sigh* On the up side, I had to play in my craft room today! I think I can live with that! The inspiration for this one came from the photo over at Curtain Call. Acorns. How perfect for this time of year.

Thank heavens this sweet image spoke very loudly to me, and the idea for my card made a very loud Ping inside my head. It looks like this:

Those sweet little acorns and the sentiment are from an RC set that Darnell was kind enough to give me. They're perfect! The oak leaves are from an NBUS set from The Market Street Stamps. The circle die is from MFT. The 'dots' are from a PTI set, and I added a little kraft twine along the left side. I think this has a bit of a masculine look to it. And it's back to the 'company preparations' for me. Tons to do, but it will be so worth it. Hope your Thanksgiving festivities are full of family, friends, good food, and blessings. As always...

Time Will Tell

Time will tell if taking time to craft was a good idea or not... I've got so much to do before company comes next week that getting ready is what I probably should be doing. I did need a bit of "me" time today however. And if I really think about it, once the little ones have been in the house for five minutes, no one will be able to tell that I've cleaned, and cleaned, and cleaned, lol! So worth every single sound of their laughter, and all the call-outs, "grandma, grandma..."

I've made a tag today. A friend happens to be expecting a baby girl at the end of December, and the Tag You're It Challenge has marvelous inspiration! See for yourself!

Hazel and Darnell really came up with such sweet baby girl tags, didn't they?! Be sure to stop over there and check out the rest of the DT's creations, too. And while you're at it, why don't you play along as well?! Come on, you know you want to....

My tag:

I sure wish you could see the colors in person. The pink isn't quite as garish as it appears and the greens are that perfect baby green...*sigh* I use an RC tag die, and a WPlus9 sentiment. The onesie is from a package of stickers that had no manufacture left. There are star sequins and I added a tiny green bling to their centers. Some ribbon and twine finish it. And now since I've got to get some things done, I'll leave you for today. Have a wonderful week, and as always...

Taking A Minute

I made a tag and a card yesterday morning, but have been running ever since. This is the first chance I've had to sit down and work on a post. It's 'that' time of year for me, and I'm sure it's the same with you. Thanksgiving fast approaches and I've got 20+ people coming this year. Should be loud and fun. With any luck, I'll be so organized that not only will the day go smoothly, but I'll have time to craft every single day between now and then (bwahahahahahahahahaha...yeah, that'll happen!).

I'll show you my tag first, which will be heading off to Loll's Twelve Tags of Christmas, and also to Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge.

My tag is a CASE of Loll's tag - she's such an inspiration!!

Mine looks like this:

The tag itself is an RC die. The trees are die cut from a shiny paper that we added color to way back at the Lake House last year. Darnell knows the technique, but I'm afraid I've forgotten. I sponged the evening sky, and added white with a gel pen and some green splatters. The 'hill' was cut with a LF die, and the sentiment is from W&W.

My card will head off to Time Out, where two sweeties, Michele and Bobby, are our inspiration. I'll show you their cards in a sec. I'm also playing along with the Tic Tac Toe Challenge.  

For the Tic, Tac, Toe portion, I used the middle row across: Die Cut, Free, Leaf.

The leaf die is a new one from The Stamp Market. The sentiment is from Studio Calico. The paper is from my stash and is older than dirt, but I love it. And that's it for me tonight. Hope your week ahead is wonderful. As always...

Craziness At My House...

Yesiree. It's been about cuckoo o'clock around here for a rather long time. We had company for nearly two weeks. An "All Girls Crafty Weekend" with two of my granddaughters, my sister Sue, and her little granddaughter followed that. Appointments. Inoculations. DH not feeling well. Helping a wonderful family member with a very, very special project (will share more on that in a later post, but just in case the recipient of that special something reads my blog, I can't divulge more info just now), and my list goes on and on. I FINALLY got to spend a bit of time in the old craft room this morning. And boy oh boy did I ever miss it!! I'll admit I'm a little rusty, but it sure was nice to make a card or two! Hope to get to some commenting today as well.

Anita (brilliant and darling friend!!), from My Papercraft World, is GD all month over at Simon Says Stamp. How darn cool is that??!! The designers from SSS were also the first guests for this year's 25 Days of Christmas Tags which is found on, and is the brainchild of the ever delightful Tracey McNeely! I missed last weeks SSS Wednesday Challenge, but there's plenty of time to play at the 25 Tags of Christmas. So that's where my tag is headed off to! First, I'll show you the sweet tag that Anita made:

Mine's a slightly different CASE:

I do so love this SSS snowflake. I've given it a blingy center and winked it up with a little Stella. The patterned vellum is from an ancient chunk found in the scraps file. The silver "fa la la" sentiment is a Winnie and Walter set. This tag is based on Day One of the 25 Days of Christmas Tags.

Then I have card that will head off to CASology, where the Cue Card is "tiny," and also to Inspired By All The Little Things. 

I decided to go very CAS with my card. The others I've tried are resting quietly in the recycle bin, lol!

I used a tiny tree, with a tiny sentiment both from The Stamp Market. That's some Impress Ink on the tree, and ME for the sentiment. I added one tiny bling on the tree top and it's encased in a panel cut with a MB die. Just one more thing before I go.... This stamp set, and another I chose from The Stamp Market were the first I've ordered from this particular company. I'm happy to report that the stamps (and dies) work beautifully and are just plain fun! Inside my order came this fun thank you card. I had to use it as a decoration for my craft room, and I know for absolutely sure, you can relate to this:

You're smiling, I can tell.... I'd had this frame sitting here just waiting to be filled. I'd say it was waiting for this! There you go...As always...

Hi Kids

I'm so sorry I haven't been around very much these last weeks. Had to do some 'company cleaning' in advance of DH's brother and our new sister-in-law's two week visit, which we're in the midst of even as we speak. Since they split their time between Greece, Germany and North Carolina, and don't get to the Midwest often, we don't see them but every four or five years. Right now, they're sight-seeing and I had time to make a quick card for a couple of challenges. I will definitely get back on track with visiting your blogs and commenting soon.

I took inspiration from both Freshly Made Sketches and Inspired By All The Little Things. I think you can see just how...

And here we go...

I'd been hoarding saving this navy blue woodgrain paper, as well as those poppies, for some time. Today was the day to pull them out and actually use them! I stamped and die cut some EH leaves, used an MFT flag die, and a MB sentiment. EZPZ. For now though, I'm off to clean the bathroom and run the vacuum before our company returns. Sending you all tons of warm wishes! And...

NBUS Round 2

Hi Kids. Just an uber quick post today. DH is still sleeping, as he isn't feeling well, and I have a minute to post a card made using this NBUS set by PPP. It's cute, and without a sentiment at present because I haven't decided what to put there as of yet. Since it's full of NBUS goodness, it will, naturally head off to Darnell's NBUS Challenge!!

Love these sweet images! Just a little ink blending for a background, cut with a ME scalloped edge die, and the other images are from PPP, colored with Copics, and cut with their matching dies. And I'm off. Hope to get to some commenting today...It just depends on my "Sweet Baboo..."